Blur: ‘We would have replaced Foo Fighters at Glastonbury if we could’ – watch

Drummer Dave Rowntree confirms the group were not asked to step in for Foo Fighters

https://link.brightcove.com/services/player/?bctid=4312979321001Blur‘s Dave Rowntree has confirmed that the band were not approached to replace Foo Fighters as Glastonbury headliners, but that they would have played if they could.

Speaking to NME backstage at British Summer Time Festival in London’s Hyde Park on Saturday (June 20), Rowntree said that the band were “never” due to play Glastonbury but that they would have been interested in the slot left vacant following Dave Grohl’s leg break.

Blur were among the early favourites to headline Glastonbury after Foo Fighters pulled out. Rowntree also offered his advice to Florence + The Machine as well as answering questions about the possibility of a headline UK tour. Watch the video above to see Rowntree speak now.

Florence + the Machine were already booked to play directly before Foo Fighters at the festival and have been promoted to headliner status. Recent examples of Glastonbury headliners pulling out of the festival include U2 in 2010, who were replaced by Gorillaz, and Kylie Minogue in 2005, who was replaced by Basement Jaxx.

Blur released their first album 12 years in April, going straight to Number One in the UK. Later this summer they will play festival dates in Portugal, Spain, Hong Kong and Australia.